Making School Council More Meaningful PARENT ENGAGEMENT VS PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Purpose & Mandate of School Councils Ontario Regulation 612 – the law that governs School Councils

SCHOOL COUNCILS - an advisory body to improve student achievement & enhance the accountability of the education system to parents

School Council actions should revolve around that mandate

Approaching Engagement Drilling Down

Authentic parent engagement is more than how many parents come out to your School Council meetings or volunteer at School Council events.

True family engagement happens at home: research shows that what parents do at home is what impacts

student achievement

Improved student achievement is what parents want for their kids.

Engagement vs Involvement Shift your Thinking

INVOLVEMENT is serving the school’s agenda (field trips, fundraising)

ENGAGEMENT brings the parent knowledge base to the table (partners in decision making)

So, what does engagement look like at home? "Just showing interest, asking them about

what they want to be when they grow up, talking to them about how they learn, having conversations about things that are on the news, playing board games, reading to your kids, baking with them, having them help you build that deck at the back of the house. All of those things are parent engagement,"

Debbie Pushor

What does engagement look like at School Council?

Partnership: respectful relationships with staff, other parents, your community

Invite parent knowledge to school - committees Work with your Principal Build parent capacity Engage parents who aren’t meeting-goers

Planning for Engagement

Student Achievement Supporting families Parent workshops Classroom initiatives Community events

System Accountability Parents as partners School committees Board & Ministry consultations VP Candidate interview teams

School Council Planning

School Improvement Plan (SIP) 3 foci: Equity, Wellbeing, Achievement

School Committees Caring & Safe Schools, Staffing, School Improvement Plan Budget

GL 41500

Use of Parent Engagement funds ($500 per school)

Use of School Council administration funds ($1.25 per pupil)

School Council Planning

Stay on target, remember your mandate Develop your School Council annual plan using:

School Committees, School Improvement Plan (SIP) School Council sub-committees (Diversity, Eco, Nutrition…) surveys, staff & parents

Does your school need community building? Literacy or Math improvement? Well-Being support?

Fundraising Plan

Stay on target, remember your mandate Gain input and identify goals:

use the School’s Improvement Plan (SIP) needs identified by staff and parents

Prepare & Submit, Publish your plan

Evaluate the Wish List What choices will improve student achievement?

Be Accountable to your Community Consult with your community

Reporting – minutes, Annual Report, PSAB, SGFFP Transparency – open meetings, shared information Evaluation – assess, welcome feedback, celebrate success

Good communication generates respect & credibility for your School Council.

IDEAS for ENGAGEMENT?

Try these at your School Council: Invite a teacher to speak at your School Council meeting about

education initiatives being used in the classroom Invite your school Social Worker to speak about the Mental Health issues

most commonly faced at your school Invite your Guidance Counsellor to give a parent presentation on

course selection Have a meeting where the Principal unpacks the Student Census data Host a Math or Literacy Night for families Host a multi-cultural Pot Luck Ask the Principal to explain the school budget Invite parents to a School Improvement Plan (SIP) session Host a family nutrition event Invite your Public Health Nurse to present – variety of free sessions

Supporting families and building partner relationships within your school community IS fulfilling the School Council mandate. Striving for authentic parent engagement over simple involvement will make your council more meaningful within your school community.

THANK YOU

Nicole Herbert